Dispensing package for flowable product

ABSTRACT

A package designed for dispensing a metered amount of flowable product is described. The package includes a storage unit having a chamber for housing the product. A receptacle of the package is capable of receiving a metered amount of product from the chamber and is movable between a first position where it communicates with the chamber of the storage unit and a second position at which the metered amount of product now in the receptacle can be dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a dispensing unit, and more particularly to a dispensing unit comprising a blister package which enable the dispensing of a metered dose of product from the package.

In the pet industry, it is very important that the proper amount of fish food is dispensed when feeding fish that are stored in a conventional tank. Many pet fish owners dispense far too much fish food into the fish tank; as a result, the fish either overeat, which is harmful to their proper biological function, or else fish food waste is accumulated in the tank, thereby requiring the tank to be cleaned far more frequently in order to maintain appropriate aquatic conditions for the pet fish.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a package designed for dispensing a metered amount of flowable product is described. The package includes a storage unit having a chamber for housing the product. A receptacle of the package is capable of receiving a metered amount of product from the chamber and is movable between a first position where it communicates with the chamber of the storage unit and a second position at which the metered amount of product now in the receptacle can be dispensed.

The package of the invention is particularly suitable for dispensing a metered dose of fish food.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved package design for dispensing product.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved package design for directly dispensing a metered dose of product.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved package design which is tamper resistant.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.

The invention comprises the features, elements and arrangements of parts described in the following description and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the package of the invention in which the bottom thereof is formed into a supporting base;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the blister unit of the inventive package in a first rotational position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the blister unit of the inventive package in a second rotational position; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a package made in accordance with the invention and generally indicated at 11 is described. Package 11 includes a blister card assembly 13 comprising a pair of bleached sulfate blister cards 15 a and 15 b of substantially rectangular shape. Blister card assembly 13 is formed with a triangular slot 17 along the top thereof that is suitable for receiving a hanger element 18 so that package 11 can be displayed in a store or other retail outlet. Each of cards 15 a and 15 b of blister card assembly 13 is formed with a pair of horizontally directed substantially parallel fold lines 19 and 21 along the bottom portions thereof. Each of cards 15 a and 15 b have a bottom end 22 formed with series of teeth 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion of card assembly 13 may be folded along fold lines 19 and 21, such that teeth 23 of cards 15 a and 15 b interengage in order to create a support stand or supporting base 24 for package 11.

Card assembly 13 of package 11 is also formed with a centrally disposed circular opening 14 for receiving a transparent circularly configured blister unit generally indicated at 25. Blister unit 25 may be made of polyvinylchloride and is defined by top blister 27 a and bottom blister 27 b which together define an internal chamber 31 for housing fish food 32 or a similar flowable product. Top blister 27 a is formed with a circular body 28 overlying chamber 31 having an outside annular wall 30. Blister 27 a is also formed with a radially directed handle 29 on top of body 28 for enabling top blister 27 a to rotate relative bottom blister 27 b, as described in more detail hereinbelow.

Each of blisters 27 a and 27 b is formed with rim 41 a and 41 b respectively, each overlying the other and disposed between blister cards 15 a and 15 b, adjacent circular opening 14 through which blister unit 25 is received in,blister card assembly 13.

Referring now to FIG. 5 and 6, blister 27 a of blister unit 25 is shown formed with a radially depending receptacle 33 into which a metered amount of fish food housed in chamber 31 may be received. In particular, in the fill position shown in FIG. 5, receptacle 33 is in communication with chamber 31 via opening 34 such that a fixed amount of fish food can be taken from chamber 31 and placed into receptacle 33 by tilting blister unit 25 to an angle. As shown in FIG. 5, receptacle 33 is initially prevented from rotation with respect to blister 27 b by means of an arcuate strip 37 formed on blister card 15 a adjacent outside wall 30 of blister body 28. Strip 37 can be folded or otherwise torn off along scored line 38, thereby no longer preventing receptacle 33 from rotating about blister 27 b of blister unit 25.

As shown in FIG. 7, receptacle 33 has rotated an arcuate distance along card assembly 13 and with respect to blister 27 b. This rotation is achieved by turning handle 29 formed along body 28 of blister 27 a. In the position shown in FIG. 7, receptacle 33 of blister 27 a is aligned with a notch 43 formed in blister 27 b along rim 41 b such that the metered amount of fish food in receptacle 33 can be dispensed in a downward direction, as shown in FIG. 8. A second arcuate strip 51, this time of blister card 15 b and formed adjacent blister unit 25 (see FIGS. 6 and 8) is torn away along scored line 53 so that the dispensed fish food can escape package 11.

It is noted that rotation of receptacle 33 is limited between the positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 due to the formation of annular groove 45 in blister 27 b and guide 47 formed in blister 27 a. As can be appreciated, guide 47 prevents the further rotation of receptacle 33 when it engages either end 49 a or 49 b of groove 45.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the construction of the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the description as shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in a limited sense.

It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention described herein and that all statements of the scope of the invention, of which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 

1. An assembly for storing and dispensing a flowable product comprising: a storage unit having a chamber for housing said product; a receptacle movable between a first position along said storage unit and in substantial alignment with a fill opening such that a metered amount of product is capable of passing from said chamber into said receptacle, and a second position along said storage unit and closed off from said chamber, said receptacle being in substantial alignment with a dispensing opening when in said second position such that said metered amount of product is capable of being dispensed from said receptacle.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a blister unit.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the blister unit includes a first and second blister for defining said chamber.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises first and second members for defining said chamber.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said first member includes said receptacle.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said first member is rotatable with respect to said second member.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said first member includes a handle.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said second member is formed with said fill opening.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said second member is formed with said dispensing opening.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further including an element for preventing movement of said receptacle.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further including a display package for retaining said storage unit.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said display package comprises a blister card.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card includes a slot for selectively receiving a display hanger.
 14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card has an end which is foldable into a stand.
 15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card prevents movement of said receptacle.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said blister card is removable such that said receptacle is movable between said first and second positions. 